Time of Mourning

Today was the first of three official days of mourning in China for the victims of the earthquake. We were able to get a lot of the medical supplies, with the help of friends, and Chris and I spent the afternoon taking about 8 boxes of stuff to the airport to meet a group that was flying to help in the disaster area. We were thankful to have a very tiny part and hope the things are well used. Two boxes of rubbing alcohol did not make it because it is flammable and they won't take it on the plane. So we will try to find someone going by train or car to take it later.

We happened to still be at the airport at 2:28 pm, which started a three-minute time of silence to remember the earthquake. The quake hit at 2:28 a week ago Monday and lasted for three minutes. Three minutes is a long time to stand still and be silent and I can only imagine how those three minutes must have felt like an eternity in the midst of shaking and destruction. It was completely silent at the airport, only the sound of a siren, which played around the country. We watched TV broadcasts of people around the country observing the three minutes. In some ways I was glad I was there and not at home, because it felt like I was participating more with the Chinese people during this time. THere were many tears (including my own) as I looked around the terminal. Apparently cars and trains were stopped during those three minutes, really everything stopped around the country at that time.

Well, I don't think I have much more to say, but the sense of heaviness and loss is still very real here a week after the quake.